Guy Ritchie to direct Man From UNCLE?

Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law portray the crime-solving duo of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson in this 2009 crime/mystery flick based on the character of the title name. With aid from former adversary Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), Holmes and Watson investigate a series of murders connected to occult rituals. Mark Strong plays the villain Lord Blackwood, who has somehow returned after his execution to take over the British Empire using an arsenal of dark arts and new technologies.

The 'Sherlock Holmes Game of Shadows' director is set to replace Steven Soderbergh - who left the project following the dual problems of his lead actor George Clooney dropping out and reported budget difficulties - and will bring his new producing partner Lionel Wigram with him to the film, Deadline reports.

Channing Tatum had been lined up by his 'Magic Mike' director Steven to replace George in the lead role but it is unclear if this will still go ahead following the change of filmmaker.

'The Man From UNCLE' TV show ran for 105 episodes between 1964 and 1968 and told the tale of suave Solo, a man who worked for the United Network Command for Law Enforcement (UNCLE) against the Technological Hierarchy for the Removal of Undesirables and the Subjugation of Humanity (THRUSH).

The programme - which originally starred Robert Vaughn - has already sparked a made for TV movie in 1983 and sister series 'The Girl From UNCLE'.

Directors including Quentin Tarantino, Matthew Vaughn X-Men: First Class and David Dobkin have all previously been linked to the project while Bradley Cooper was up for the lead role at one stage.